Covalent Attachment of Polyoxometalates to Passivated Si(111) Substrates: A Stable and Electronic Defect-Free Si|POM Platform

Author(s):  
Joseph M. Gurrentz ◽  
Michael J. Rose
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandan Dey ◽  
Ronny Neumann

<p>A manganese substituted Anderson type polyoxometalate, [MnMo<sub>6</sub>O<sub>24</sub>]<sup>9-</sup>, tethered with an anthracene photosensitizer was prepared and used as catalyst for CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. The polyoxometalate-photosensitizer hybrid complex, obtained by covalent attachment of the sensitizer to only one face of the planar polyoxometalate, was characterized by NMR, IR and mass spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry measurements show a catalytic response for the reduction of carbon dioxide, thereby suggesting catalysis at the manganese site on the open face of the polyoxometalate. Controlled potentiometric electrolysis showed the reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to CO with a TOF of ~15 sec<sup>-1</sup>. Further photochemical reactions showed that the polyoxometalate-anthracene hybrid complex was active for the reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to yield formic acid and/or CO in varying amounts dependent on the reducing agent used. Control experiments showed that the attachment of the photosensitizer to [MnMo<sub>6</sub>O<sub>24</sub>]<sup>9-</sup> is necessary for photocatalysis.</p><div><br></div>


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Beachey ◽  
Harley Worthy ◽  
William David Jamieson ◽  
Suzanne Thomas ◽  
Benjamin Bowen ◽  
...  

<p>Functional integration of proteins with carbon-based nanomaterials such as nanotubes holds great promise in emerging electronic and optoelectronic applications. Control over protein attachment poses a major challenge for consistent and useful device fabrication, especially when utilizing single/few molecule properties. Here, we exploit genetically encoded phenyl azide photochemistry to define the direct covalent attachment of three different proteins, including the fluorescent protein GFP, to carbon nanotube side walls. Single molecule fluorescence revealed that on attachment to SWCNTs GFP’s fluorescence changed in terms of intensity and improved resistance to photobleaching; essentially GFP is fluorescent for much longer on attachment. The site of attachment proved important in terms of electronic impact on GFP function, with the attachment site furthest from the functional center having the larger effect on fluorescence. Our approach provides a versatile and general method for generating intimate protein-CNT hybrid bioconjugates. It can be potentially applied easily to any protein of choice; attachment position and thus interface characteristics with the CNT can easily be changed by simply placing the phenyl azide chemistry at different residues by gene mutagenesis. Thus, our approach will allow consistent construction and modulate functional coupling through changing the protein attachment position.</p>


2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soichiro Nakamura ◽  
Kazumi Dokai ◽  
Megumi Matsuura ◽  
Junya Hata ◽  
Hiroki Saeki

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusaku Hontani ◽  
Mikhail Baloban ◽  
Francisco Velazquez Escobar ◽  
Swetta A. Jansen ◽  
Daria M. Shcherbakova ◽  
...  

AbstractNear-infrared fluorescent proteins (NIR FPs) engineered from bacterial phytochromes are widely used for structural and functional deep-tissue imaging in vivo. To fluoresce, NIR FPs covalently bind a chromophore, such as biliverdin IXa tetrapyrrole. The efficiency of biliverdin binding directly affects the fluorescence properties, rendering understanding of its molecular mechanism of major importance. miRFP proteins constitute a family of bright monomeric NIR FPs that comprise a Per-ARNT-Sim (PAS) and cGMP-specific phosphodiesterases - Adenylyl cyclases - FhlA (GAF) domain. Here, we structurally analyze biliverdin binding to miRFPs in real time using time-resolved stimulated Raman spectroscopy and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations. Biliverdin undergoes isomerization, localization to its binding pocket, and pyrrolenine nitrogen protonation in <1 min, followed by hydrogen bond rearrangement in ~2 min. The covalent attachment to a cysteine in the GAF domain was detected in 4.3 min and 19 min in miRFP670 and its C20A mutant, respectively. In miRFP670, a second C–S covalent bond formation to a cysteine in the PAS domain occurred in 14 min, providing a rigid tetrapyrrole structure with high brightness. Our findings provide insights for the rational design of NIR FPs and a novel method to assess cofactor binding to light-sensitive proteins.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3161
Author(s):  
Sandra Zarska ◽  
Damian Kulawik ◽  
Volodymyr Pavlyuk ◽  
Piotr Tomasik ◽  
Alicja Bachmatiuk ◽  
...  

The bromination of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was performed with vapor bromine in a closed vessel, and they were subjected to intensive stirring with a magnetic stirrer for up to 14 days. The efficiency of bromination was compared depending upon duration. The structure and surface of the crude and purified products were characterized by detailed physicochemical analyses, such as SEM/EDS, TEM, XRD, TGA, Raman, and XPS spectroscopies. The studies confirmed the presence of bromine covalently bound with nanotubes as well as the formation of inclusion MWCNT–Br2 complexes. It was confirmed that Br2 molecules are absorbed on the surface of nanotubes (forming the CNT-Br2 complex), while they can dissociate close to dangling bonds at CNT defect sites with the formation of covalent C−Br bonds. Thus, any covalent attachment of bromine to the graphitic surface achieved around room temperature is likely related to the defects in the MWCNTs. The best results, i.e., the highest amount of attached Br2, were obtained for brominated nanotubes brominated for 10 days, with the content of covalently bound bromine being 0.68 at% (by XPS).


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1032
Author(s):  
Anirban Naskar ◽  
Rabi Khanal ◽  
Samrat Choudhury

The electronic structure of a series perovskites ABX3 (A = Cs; B = Ca, Sr, and Ba; X = F, Cl, Br, and I) in the presence and absence of antisite defect XB were systematically investigated based on density-functional-theory calculations. Both cubic and orthorhombic perovskites were considered. It was observed that for certain perovskite compositions and crystal structure, presence of antisite point defect leads to the formation of electronic defect state(s) within the band gap. We showed that both the type of electronic defect states and their individual energy level location within the bandgap can be predicted based on easily available intrinsic properties of the constituent elements, such as the bond-dissociation energy of the B–X and X–X bond, the X–X covalent bond length, and the atomic size of halide (X) as well as structural characteristic such as B–X–B bond angle. Overall, this work provides a science-based generic principle to design the electronic states within the band structure in Cs-based perovskites in presence of point defects such as antisite defect.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1977
Author(s):  
Poojitha Rajasekar ◽  
Jamie Patel ◽  
Rachel L. Clifford

Fibroblasts are an integral part of connective tissue and play a crucial role in developing and modulating the structural framework of tissues by acting as the primary source of extracellular matrix (ECM). A precise definition of the fibroblast remains elusive. Lung fibroblasts orchestrate the assembly and turnover of ECM to facilitate gas exchange alongside performing immune functions including the secretion of bioactive molecules and antigen presentation. DNA methylation is the covalent attachment of a methyl group to primarily cytosines within DNA. DNA methylation contributes to diverse cellular phenotypes from the same underlying genetic sequence, with DNA methylation profiles providing a memory of cellular origin. The lung fibroblast population is increasingly viewed as heterogeneous with between 6 and 11 mesenchymal populations identified across health and lung disease to date. DNA methylation has been associated with different lung fibroblast populations in health and with alterations in lung disease, but to varying extents. In this review, we will discuss lung fibroblast heterogeneity and the evidence for a contribution from DNA methylation to defining cell populations and alterations in disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asrin Pakravan ◽  
Mehdi Azizi ◽  
Fariborz Rahimi ◽  
Farhad Bani ◽  
Farideh Mahmoudzadeh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Combination chemo-photothermal therapy appears to be one of the next generations of cancer treatment. In this study hollow gold nanostars (HGNSs) and gold nanocages (GNCs) were synthesized and stabilized with thermo-pH-sensitive thiol-end capped ABC triblock copolymer poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(N isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly (e-caprolactone)-SH; PAA-b-PNIPAAm-b-PCL-SH (GNSs@Pol). Doxorubicin (Dox) was conjugated to the GNSs@Pol nanostructures via ionic interaction, covalent attachment and hydrogen bonding (GNSs@Dox-Pol). The physicochemical characteristics of prepared GNSs@Pol and GNSs were assessed using dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential techniques. Cytocompatibility of the GNSs@Pol was studied by hemolysis assay and MTT assay. The chemo-photothermal therapy (PTT) potential of GNSs@Dox-Pol was compared on MCF7 cells using MTT assay, cell cycle, DAPI staining and Annexin-V apoptosis assay techniques. Results Cell internalization results showed an almost complete uptake of GNSs@Pol by MCF-7 cells in the first 3 h of treatment. The heat generation measurement results showed that both of GNSs have a potential for light to heat conversion (∆T = 23–27 ºC) and HGNSs demonstrated better efficiency than GNCs after 10-min exposure to NIR irradiation. Following chemo-photothermal treatment, the highest cell mortality (90%) and apoptotic effects (97% apoptosis) were observed in HGNSs@Dox-Pol received laser irradiation treatment group. Conclusions This work highlights the potential application of designed GNSs@Dox-Pol in a combinational chemo-PTT to treat breast cancer cells. Graphic abstract


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document